Reading youngsters wowed a panel of top chefs with their culinary flair during Young Chef 2008.

Competition was fierce at the grand final at Thames Valley University, which saw youngsters from Denefield School, Tilehurst, and The Abbey School, Kendrick Road, crowned champions in their respective age groups.

Chefs Colin Robson-Wright, from the New Mill Restaurant, Ashley Palmer-Watts – Heston Blumenthal’s head chef at the Fat Duck in Bray – and David Cavalier, food innovation director of Charlton House, had the privilege of judging Monday’s final.

Denefield pupils Sophie Welch, and Carla Minter scooped first place in the under 15s category for their “Denefield Chicken” stuffed with goat’s cheese, followed by bread and butter pudding for dessert.

In the under 17s section Olivia Corbridge and Becky Norman reigned supreme with their three course meal which included chicken roulade for starters, followed by parmesan crusted lemon sole, and baked ricotta with caramelised peaches.

The award for most creative chef went to the under 15s team from Embrook School in Wokingham, with their excellent meal and themed “James Bond, Casino Royale” table setting.

The event was organised by Central Berkshire Education Business Partnership (CBEBP) to promote catering as a worthwhile career.

Laura Stopforth, project manager at CBEBP, said: “This competition is now in its 11th year and continues to attract an extremely high standard of entries from some very talented students.

“The competition fits into their work-related learning curriculum by allowing them to work alongside professionals from the catering industry.”

She added: “The judges were impressed by their skills and creativity and once again found it difficult to select the winners.”

The final was a culmination of all the hard work put in by youngsters in the competition, which was open to secondary school pupils from Reading and Wokingham.

CBEBP would like to say a special thanks to sponsors Charlton House Catering Services in association with 3663, Baxter Storey and Continental Chefs Supplies, John Lewis, L’Ortolan in Shinfield, The New Mill Restaurant in Eversley, Renaissance Reading Hotel, Novotel Reading.